Parents say

Kids say

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

X of Y

X of Y

X of Y

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this app.

Educational Value

Kids can learn the fundamentals of color -- primary, secondary, and gradients. The app presents each group of colors, encouraging kids to name and match them, thus building their color vocabulary and understanding about the basics of painting and art. In the game, color wheel exercise, and free paint canvas, kids apply the information they've learned and get an intro lesson to digital creation. If you're looking for a beautiful, systematic way to help young kids learn about color, Intro to Colors is the one.

Ease of Play

Extremely easy to use. Sparse, simple user interface puts the focus squarely on the colors and the interactive exercises. Grown-ups can find detailed written instructions by tapping "i." The voice instructions are important to most exercises on the app, so you can't turn sounds off.

Violence & Scariness

Sexy Stuff

Language

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Intro to Colors, by Montessorium takes color and breaks it down into the simplest elements for kids to explore, Montessori style. The keys to color -- primary colors -- begin a kid's color journey on this masterful app. Then onto secondary colors, shades (or "gradients"), a blank canvas where kids can mix primary colors to paint anything they'd like, and a whimsical seek-and-find color game that encourages kids to notice color all around them in their environment.

What's it about?

From the main screen, tap on Primary, Secondary, Gradients, Paint, or Search (five language options). Tap Primary and watch as red, blue, and yellow tablets appear. Shake the device to scatter and drag to match the colors, along with other reinforcement games. Verbal and visual cues teach color names and tell kids what to do next. There are activities for secondary colors and shades, too, all with clear instructions. The canvas page allows kids to free paint. The color search game is easy seek-and-tap.

Is it any good?

INTRO TO COLORS is yet another winner in developer Montessorium's line of Montessori-inspired apps. With just a little help from a grown-up, these basic introductions and exercises to primary colors, secondary colors, and shades are suitable for very young kids. The seek-and-find colors game includes modern, zany grayscale illustrations splashed only by the colors kids are asked to find. It's also fun for kids to free paint and mix primary colors to make new ones on the blank canvas. Spinning the rainbow color wheel and dragging to reorder seven shades of one color from dark to light helps kids focus on each color. There's no option for sounds to be turned off, which may be distracting to some users. Still, a marvelous way to introduce kids to color.

Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.

Headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Help center

Follow Common Sense Media

Common Sense, Common Sense Media, Common Sense Education, and Common Sense Kids Action, associated names, associated trademarks, and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN 41-2024986).